Howard police issue arrest warrant for wounded murder suspect

October 11, 2003|By Gus G. Sentementes | Gus G. Sentementes,SUN STAFF

Howard County police said yesterday that they had issued an arrest warrant for a Baltimore man, who is hospitalized in critical condition, in connection with the robbery and fatal shooting Wednesday of a Jessup deli owner.

The warrant was issued for Reginald Venable Jr., 46, of the 800 block of E. 33rd St., who is at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, guarded by Howard police.

A Baltimore County police officer shot Venable as police were attempting to arrest him and another suspect at the end of an automobile chase Wednesday that went through Howard and Baltimore counties before ending in West Baltimore.

The suspects were sought in the killing of Kwang Jun Kim, 53, owner of the Jessup Plaza Deli & Convenience store and a Presbyterian deacon. Two men robbed Kim of $125,000 as he returned to his business in the 7800 block of Washington Blvd. from a bank trip about 11:15 a.m., court documents said.

Kim offered a check-cashing service, the kind of business robbers target because of the amounts of cash they have.

The other suspect in the killing, Walter J. Blannon, 38, was arrested and charged Thursday with first- and second-degree murder, armed robbery and other charges.

Yesterday, a bail review for Blannon, who lives in the 1600 block of N. Calvert St. in Baltimore, was postponed by a Howard County District Court judge until Blannon could speak with a public defender and find an attorney.

Blannon could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder. He is also charged with second-degree murder, robbery, armed robbery, theft, assault and other charges, according to court documents.

A funeral for Kim will be held at 10 a.m. today at Witzke Funeral Home in the 5500 block of Twin Knolls Road in Columbia. A graveside burial service will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens in the 2100 block of Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville.